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Importance of Dog-Human Communication

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8 min Read

January 30, 2023 | Parenting

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Importance of Dog-Human Communication



Since the early days of human civilization, dogs and humans have been living together in close quarters.


This close relationship has resulted in a deep understanding between the two species. Dogs are able to communicate with humans in a way that other animals cannot.


Dogs use a variety of methods to communicate with humans.


They can use their body language, facial expressions, vocalizations, their tails, ears, and eyes to convey their message.


They use body language to express a variety of emotions, including happiness, sadness, fear, anxiety, and aggression.

The different ways dogs communicate with humans, dog facts and dog body language.

Tail Wagging: Dogs are experts at nonverbal communication, and they use their tails to communicate a variety of messages to their humans.


When a dog's tail is wagging, it usually means the dog is happy and friendly.


They may run around with their tails wagging back and forth, or they may even hold their tails low to the ground while wiggling them back and forth rapidly. This is often a sign that the dog wants to play fetch or catch.


A dog who is holding his or her tail high in the air is often confident and alert, while a dog who tucks his or her tail between the legs may be feeling scared or submissive.


Facial Expression: Facial expressions are also important in dog communication. A dog who is showing its teeth is usually displaying aggression, while a dog who is licking its lips may be indicating that it is nervous or stressed.


Vocalisations: Vocalizations are another key part of dog communication. Dogs use barks, growls, whines, and howls to express themselves. Each of these sounds has a different meaning, and dogs use them to convey different messages to other animals and humans.


An enthusiastic dog that barks when you get home is simply trying to communicate that they are happy. High pitched barks are usually welcoming and low pitched barks can indicate that they are bothered with something or threatened by something.


Dogs growl when you notice that another animal has entered their territory. They may whine around a toy or leash when they want to go out and play. Sometimes they howl when they want to communicate with other dogs or when they want to express emotions like happiness, curiosity, frustration, etc.


Scent: Another way that dogs communicate with humans is through scent.


Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell and can use scent to communicate a variety of messages.


For example, dogs often leave their urine or feces as scent marks to convey information about themselves to other dogs (and humans).


Play: Dogs use play as a way to bond with their family members, develop social skills and release excess energy.


Your dog might simply tug at a cloth in your hand, paw you, hover around you to grab your attention.


These are all signs of showing affection and to indicate to you that its play time.


Behavior: Finally, dogs also communicate with us through their behavior.


Dogs often use specific behaviors, such as wagging their tail or licking our face, to communicate with us.


When we are happy, they wag their tails and when we are sad, they look at us with their big, brown eyes.


For example, when they want to play, they will put their front paws on our shoulders and when they want to be petted, they will sit at our feet and look up at us.


These behaviors can convey a wide range of emotions and messages depending on the context in which they are used.

Why communication is important for dog-human relationship

Beautiful Young Woman Playing with Dog


It is no secret that dogs are man's best friend. They provide us with companionship, loyalty and unconditional love. In return, we owe it to them to learn their language and understand their needs.


Benefits of Good dog human communication:


  1. Good communication is essential for any relationship. It helps build a bond between a dog and human. It is also known to decrease stress related hormones ans blood pressure.


  1. By picking up their cues, you can better understand their needs. Dogs use body language, vocalizations and scent to convey their feelings and intentions, therefore, we can take the time to learn how to read these signals 


  1. One of the most important things that comes with communicating well with dogs is that it provides them with consistent leadership. Dogs are social animals who thrive on structure and hierarchy. When they know their place in the pack, they feel secure and content.


This helps to prevent behavioral problems such as separation anxiety, aggression and destructive chewing.

What you must not do when trying to build a rapport with your pet.

We must also be careful not to overstimulate our dogs with too much petting or attention.


Some dogs become anxious when they are constantly bombarded with physical touch or verbal praise.


It is important to read your dog's body language carefully to gauge his or her comfort level.


Dogs are incredibly intuitive creatures who can pick up on our emotional state quite easily.


If we are feeling stressed, anxious or angry, they will sense it and may react accordingly. It is important to remain calm and relaxed around our dogs at all times, even when they are misbehaving.

How to improve communication with your dog

Dogs communicate with humans in different ways than humans communicate with each other.


To improve communication with your dog, it is important to learn to read their body language and respond accordingly. For example, if your dog is wagging their tail energetically and looking at you with bright eyes, they are probably excited and happy. If your dog is cowering and tucking their tail between their legs, they may be scared or feeling threatened.


It is also important to pay attention to the context in which your dog is communicating with you. If they are barking at another dog across the street, they may be trying to warn you of a potential danger. If they are whining while you are getting ready to leave the house, they may be trying to tell you that they don’t want you to go.


By taking the time to learn about how dogs communicate with humans and responding to them in a way that they understand, you can develop a better relationship with your furry friend and improve communication overall.

Communicate effectively with dogs using training treats

Man Looking His Dog


Training sessions and healthy training treats are a great way to build a bond between the pet and you. The use of training commands will familiarize them with the sound of the words used and they are more likely to respond when you call out to them.


Use marker signals ( like a click of your finger or a unique sound) to help your dog identify that you are about to give him a treat. Using such cues can help them understand you better and improve communication.


You could also use hand signals or body movements along with verbal cues for each command. Dogs are experts at reading body language and they will pick up these cues within no time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When do dogs howl?

Answer: Dogs howl for multiple reasons. They may simply be communicating with another dog that is howling far away or they may want to express some kind of positive or negative emotion.


2. How do dogs show their anxiety?

Answer: Humans can interpret a dog's anxiety by looking for certain cues.


For example, a dog who is panting heavily or pacing back and forth may be anxious or stressed.


A dog who is cowering or hiding behind furniture may also be feeling anxious.


If a dog's tail is tucked between his legs, this is another sign that he may be feeling uneasy. If your dog is whining excessively he may be anxious.


Learn more about why your dog may be whining excessively in this blogpost.


3. Do dogs smile at us?

Answer: The answer isn't entirely clear, but there are some theories.


One possibility is that when dogs bare their teeth and wrinkle up their noses in a way that looks like a smile, they're actually just trying to look friendly and non-threatening.


Another possibility is that dogs learn to associate smiling with positive experiences – like being petted or given a treat – so they start doing it more often in order to get those good things.


Whatever the reason, it's undeniable that dogs bring a lot of joy into our lives – even if we can't always tell if they're actually smiling at us!

Remember these things before you start building a healthy communication channel with your pet dog.

  • Dogs are amazing creatures that have the ability to read our emotions and communicate with us in ways we may not even be aware of. 


  • By understanding their body language, behavior, vocalizations and other signals, humans can better understand what our canine companions are trying to tell us. 


  • With this knowledge we can build stronger relationships with our dogs and gain a deeper understanding of each other's needs and feelings. 


  • When it comes to communication between humans and dogs, having a true appreciation for one another is key.


Learn about pet problems, solutions, guides on dog food and treats and much more at our Instagram page.


It is just as important to be aware of your dog's needs and emotional state as it is to provide him with shelter and food. Some pet parents believe that providing food and shelter is sufficient; however, pets, like children, require interaction with their parents. As a result, you should reward their loyalty, lavish them with love, and attend to their needs.


At Dogsee, we make the best himalayan treats for our furry friends. Our treats are 100% vegetarian, Gluten and Grain-free and are packed with the goodness of cheese  extracted from the Yaks and Cows of Himalaya’s pristine foothills.


Let’s take good care of our furry pals because the love we receive from them is the truest and the purest kind!

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